'It’s always been something that is unique, and can be special for the city,' WPI, Clark set to resume men's hoops rivalry
With 20 straight wins, the WPI men’s basketball team has dominated its series with Clark over the last decade, but the Cougars, who won their first 12 games of the season and are battling the Engineers for the top spot in the NEWMAC, are certainly ready to snap WPI’s run of success.
COVID wiped out both teams’ 2020-21 seasons, so after a year hiatus Clark (14-1, 3-1) and WPI (12-1, 4-0) will renew their rivalry, which dates back to 1920, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Harrington Auditorium.
“A cross-town rivalry between two teams off to really good seasons, I think it will be fun,” WPI coach Chris Bartley said. “It’s always been something that is unique, and can be special for the city, too.”
WATCH: WPI vs. Clark
Unfortunately, external spectators are not permitted at WPI home events at this time. The game, as in past years, likely would have drawn a big Worcester crowd. Fans can watch the livestream by following this link: https://athletics.wpi.edu/landing/index.
No. 19 WPI, which has made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, the last in 2019-20, in Bartley’s 21 seasons, rides an eight-game winning streak into the game.
The Engineers’ roster includes two fifth-year seniors, starting guards Kahleb Downing and Colin McNamara, as well as fourth-year senior center Logan O’Donnell, who comes off the bench, and junior forward John Lowther, who averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds as a freshman, but five of WPI’s top nine players are playing college basketball for the first time this season.
“We had a lot of unknowns coming into the season,” Bartley said, “but this is a really hard-working group, a tough-minded group that really wants to rally around our seniors.”
Among WPI’s first-year players is sophomore forward John Adams of Douglas. Adams, who attended Wilbraham & Monson, averages 14.8 points and 10.1 rebounds.
“He’s learned how to impact the game on both ends as the season has gone on,” Bartley said. “He’s embraced our style of play and works so hard at it. He just keeps getting better and better.”
WPI averages 80.5 points per game, just behind Clark’s NEWMAC-best 82.8 ppg, and leads the conference in scoring defense, holding foes to 62.2 points per game.
“We have a great deal of respect for WPI and the program under Coach Bartley,” third-year Clark coach Tyler Simms said. “We know it will be a difficult matchup. We have to prepare and take care of what we can control.”
Clark’s 12-0 start was its best since beginning the 1985-86 season 14-0. The Cougars fell to Emerson on Jan. 12 and bounced back with wins over Coast Guard and Wheaton.
“We’re really excited about how we’ve continued to play,” Simms said. “Credit goes to our guys. Every day they’ve continued to work really hard in practice and in games and the results have been a byproduct of their work ethic and their approach, but we have a lot to work on and there is still a lot of season left. Nothing has been accomplished yet, but we are excited about how hard our guys have been working and how great they’ve been every day.”
Graduate forward Tyler Davern of Webster and Bartlett High is among four Clark players averaging in double figures in scoring (15.2 ppg) and Davern leads the team in rebounding (7.9 rpg).
“They’re an impressive collection of players,” Bartley said, “and they’ve got a really good system of play that fits their personnel, so I have nothing but respect for what Tyler and their group has done to this point this year. We will have to play really well to have a chance to beat them. They are a very athletic team that will press you and turn you over. They’re a very potent offensive team with shooting and driving. They’re a handful for sure.”
Clark’s last win over WPI was in the 2009-10 NEWMAC Tournament final. From 1998-2003, the Cougars ruled the matchup with 11 straight victories. WPI leads the all-time series, 88-64.
“Everyone talks about Worcester being a college basketball city,” Simms said, “and the conference rivalry between city schools is great.”
Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: WPI and Clark renew men's college basketball rivalry
